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pearance, however, was far less satisfactory. Now that his startled pleasure at Alinor's nude appearance had passed, he looked decidedly uneasy. |
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"You are early astir," he said to Ian. |
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"Early?" Ian was surprised. He glanced toward the window, which was bright with daylight. "It must be well after the prime. I must be on the field to place my men before terce." |
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"You are sore overworn. Surely you will yield your place to another man. There are several who have offered to stand in your shoes this day." |
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Ian looked even more surprised and a little offended. "I had some heavy work yesterday, but what is that? A night's sleep has restored meyou can see that." |
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"But you said your knee was injured. That" |
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"My knee will not serve well for walking, but that is no reason why I cannot sit a horse. For jousting, perhaps, such a thing is a disadvantage, but there will be no play with lances this day," Ian said sharply. |
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Salisbury glanced at Alinor, who had just filled a goblet with wine and handed it to him. Her face was set like stone. "Do you wish me to retire, my lord?" she asked stiffly. "I will, if it will make you more easy, but I assure you that you can tell me no more about my husband's danger than I already know." |
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Uncomfortably, Salisbury stared down into the contents of his cup, turning and turning it in his hands. Ian glanced sidelong at Alinor, but said nothing to contradict her. He went stolidly on with his meal, leaving the next move to Salisbury. |
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"Why did you do it?" the earl asked at last, the words wrenching themselves unwillingly out of his throat. "He did not deserve it. Oh, perhaps he did encourage jousters to go against you. He was angry that you had stolen so great a marriage prize and would have taken pleasure in seeing you overthrown, but" |
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"Let us pretend that you did not ask that question," |
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